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Working Remotely

FooEngine is a remote-first company.

Remote work offers a lot of flexibility, but it also comes with its own challenges. Without clear boundaries, it's easy for work to bleed into the rest of your life. The guidance below is intended to help you stay productive, healthy, and sane while working remotely.

Set Up Your Workspace

Having a defined workspace helps you mentally switch between "work mode" and "off mode".

If you work from home, try to set up a dedicated area — ideally a separate room, but even a consistent desk or corner helps. FooEngine supports reasonable costs associated with setting up an effective workstation, in line with our expenses policy.

Get Away From the Screen

Regular screen breaks are important. Health guidance generally recommends stepping away for 5–10 minutes every hour. Use breaks to:

  • Stand up and move around
  • Make a drink
  • Go outside
  • Eat a proper lunch
  • Do anything that gets you away from your screen

It's very easy to work straight through the day when you're remote — be intentional about taking breaks.

Get Out of the House

Without a commute or natural transitions, it's easy to spend days barely leaving the house.

Try to get out at least once a day — even a short walk can help reset your brain, improve your mood, and give you space to think through problems from a different angle.

Take Care of Your Body

Looking after your physical health is part of working sustainably.

Avoid spending long periods working from sofas, beds, or poorly set-up café tables. Use proper seating, desk height, and screen positioning wherever possible. When travelling or working remotely away from home, portable ergonomics (like a laptop stand and external keyboard/mouse) make a big difference.

Protect Your Downtime

When you're offline, you should actually be offline.

To protect your downtime:

  • Use Do Not Disturb in Slack
  • Disable push notifications on your phone for work tools

Rest is not optional — it's part of doing good work long-term.

Ask for Help When You Need It

Because most communication is text-based, it's not always obvious when someone is struggling.

If you're having difficulties — whether work-related or personal — you're encouraged to speak up. That might be:

  • Your manager
  • A teammate you trust
  • Bringing it up in a 1:1

You're not expected to handle everything alone, and asking for help is always okay.

Flexible Working For Parents

We recognise that people have lives outside of work, and for many of us that includes caring responsibilities. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to do your job effectively without having to choose between work and family.

  • You're welcome to have your baby with you on work calls. This includes breastfeeding.
  • If you need to take your children to appointments, collect them unexpectedly, or deal with short-notice childcare issues, you're not expected to take holiday for this.
  • If you're travelling specifically for work and incur additional childcare costs, FooEngine will cover those costs. Please discuss this in advance with your manager.
  • In some circumstances, we may be able to help with short-term childcare costs due to illness, bereavement, or other exceptional situations. Speak to your manager if this applies.

The key expectation is communication. If something comes up, let your team or manager know — flexibility works best when it's shared and visible.

Setting Up Your Workstation

Back pain, neck pain, eye fatigue, and other forms of repetitive strain injury (RSI) can affect both your health and your ability to work effectively. Taking the time to set up your workstation properly helps reduce these risks and supports sustainable, long-term working.

Core Equipment

  • Chair - Choose an ergonomic chair that is adjustable and supports good posture. Everyone's body and working style are different, so what works for one person may not work for another. Visiting a shop for advice can be helpful, and refurbished or second-hand options are often available. If you're unsure what to choose, ask for recommendations from the team.
  • Desk - A height-adjustable desk is strongly recommended, as it allows you to set the desk height correctly for both sitting and standing. If a standing desk isn't an option, make sure your desk height is appropriate for your posture and chair setup.
  • Monitor - Use a monitor that can tilt and swivel so you can position it at a comfortable viewing height and angle.
  • Monitor Arm - A monitor arm can be useful if you need to adjust your screen position regularly, or if your desk space is limited.
  • Laptop Stand - If you work from a laptop, a stand helps raise the screen to eye level and prevents neck strain from looking down for long periods.
  • External Keyboard and Mouse - Using a separate keyboard and mouse allows for a more natural arm and wrist position, particularly when using a laptop stand.
  • Wrist Rest - A wrist rest can help reduce strain during extended periods of typing or mouse use.

Reducing Eye Strain

  • Adjust your monitor's brightness and contrast to suit your environment
  • Work in a well-lit space where possible, ideally with natural light
  • Configure system font sizes and scaling for comfortable reading

Looking After Your Overall Health

  • Take regular breaks and move around throughout the day
  • Change posture occasionally rather than staying in one position for too long
  • Stay hydrated — keeping a water bottle nearby helps, especially during long focus sessions

A good workstation setup isn't a luxury — it's part of working well and staying healthy. If you're unsure about your setup or need advice, ask early rather than pushing through discomfort.